Mike Awesome might have been the best big man Vince never snapped up ... not until he was past his prime anyways.

I thought this was interesting

Originally posted by The MeltzHe worked for a few months with WWF after the collapse of WCW, as well as with All Japan, but had not wrestled in some time. He was working as a realtor at Coldwell Banker at the time of his death.

I find it amazing how guys like Awesome, Vadar, Hansen, Dr. Death, etc.... can go to Japan, work stiff as hell, become monster heel gods, and then come back home.........and nothing. I know the Japanese audience is different, I just can't believe that outside of Vadar's initial WCW stint, no one in the US has been able to replicate the "magic" from Japan. It must of been very frustrating for Awesome not to be able to be successful in his own country as he was in Japan. He was not performing any different, but no US interest. Maybe he did get himself blackballed after the ECW/WCW incident. I was always hoping he could be the big man that TNA has always needed that could pull out the high spots.

I guess Vince just doesn't like the idea of the guys stiffing the hell out of his top draws and shortening their carers. Although, I have always wondered how guys like Misawa, Kawada, and Kobashi can still be wrestling after getting dropped on their skull for 20 years.

Dean! Have you been shooting dope into your scrotum? You can tell me! I'm hip!

I wonder why he was treated like such a jobber in WWE. Unless I'm underestimating Heyman's role in booking back then, as I'm sure he was still bitter about the whole "abruptly jumping ship and screwing over the company that was entirely responsible for his visibility in the United States and fucking up that company's booking plans so much that Justin Credible of all people had an extended run as world champion" thing (Joey Styles in particular seemed less than forgiving on commentary during One Night Stand).

Of course, at the time, I'm sure WCW seemed like it would at least outlive ECW. Oh, cruel fate.

Sad to hear, as always, but if it was to happen, he left with a good note.

I remember how hated he was at ONS when it first started, especially by Joey Styles, who basically shit on the guy for the beginning of the match. Then Tanaka and Awesome go to put on the match of the show, and all was forgotten.

Does anyone know if Vince or Heyman made a push to sign him when they revived ECW last year when they signed a bunch of the originals to deals??